Dry booth

ABSTRACT

A set of knee-length, flexible zippered shoe and boot protectors that would fit over one&#39;s shoes or boots and lower leg, providing all-weather, watertight protection of fashion footwear and keep them looking fresh, clean, and new, whatever the weather.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of covering devicesand more specifically relates to a set of knee-length, flexible zipperedshoe and boot protectors that would fit over one's shoes or boots andlower leg, providing all-weather, watertight protection of fashionfootwear and keep them looking fresh, clean, and new, whatever theweather.

2. Description of the Related Art

Some inventions—cars, lightbulbs, television, personal computers,cellphones—change the way we live and change the world. These are whatone might call groundbreakers: entirely new technologies, or adaptationsof existing technology to accomplish things not previously thoughtpossible. Such inventions mark the great milestones in humanity'stechnological history, and bring on huge changes in the life of asociety. But groundbreaking inventions are understandably rare: thegreat majority of successful inventions are instead small improvementsthat come into play gradually, so subtly that we hardly notice them:

Improvement-type inventions bring not sweeping societal change, butheightened individual convenience that then spreads to all consumers, orsubtle, hardly noticed improvements in specific, pre-existingtechnologies. Does anyone remember the date when the first spray-pumpbottle hit the shelves? How about the first camera with a built-inflash, or the first time they saw VELCRO®? Who remembers the arrival ofthe electric toothbrush, disposable flossers, or soft-drink bottles madeof plastic? Who can name the person who invented the automobileshoulder-harness or anti-lock brakes, thumb-tacks or rubber bands,disposable razors or monofilament fishing line? Inventions such asthese—often, simple improvements of existing products—make our liveseasier (whether we notice them or not), and very soon we cannot remembera time without them.

In regard to almost anything, then, avenues to further improvement areopen to the inventor's creative vision. Often, improvements arise fromthe inspiration of consumers who have discovered in their daily lives adefect or a hidden potential in some commonly used product ortechnology, and have figured out a better way. One such improvement—aclever and easily affordable way of protecting and maintaining boots andshoes of all descriptions—is the subject of this report. (In this case,the inventor was inspired to create a way of protecting boots and shoesin bad weather—a way that did not involve the use of plastic grocerybags and rubber bands).

Typically, those who enjoy boots and fine shoes as articles of fashionhave had little choice, when going out, of exposing their shoes or bootsto the outside world of rain, snow, sleet, or mud—elements that can notonly detract seriously from the appearance of such footwear, but evendamage it beyond repair. The invention to be introduced, described, anddiscussed in the course of this report would provide easy and affordableall-weather protection for boots and shoes—and keep them looking fresh,clean, and new, whatever the weather.

Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in coveringdevices art.

Among these are found in: U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0016744 to Wai Kwan Chan;U.S. Pat. No. D428686 to Mariano D'Andrea; and U.S. Pub. No. 2479006 toPauline E. Garth et al. This prior art is representative of coveringdevices for footwear.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. Thus, a needexists for a reliable Dry Boot, a set of knee-length, flexible zipperedshoe and boot protectors that would fit over one's shoes or boots andlower leg, providing all-weather, watertight protection of fashionfootwear and keep them looking fresh, clean, and new, whatever theweather and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known coveringdevice art, the present invention provides a novel Dry Boot. The generalpurpose of the present invention, which will he described subsequentlyin greater detail, is to provide a set of knee-length, flexible zipperedshoe and boot protectors that would fit over one's shoes or boots andlower leg, providing all-weather, watertight protection of fashionfootwear and keep them looking fresh, clean, and new, whatever theweather. The features of the invention which are believed to be novelare particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concludingportion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, andadvantages of the present invention will become better understood withreference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention,Dry Boot, constructed and operative according to the teachings of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a Dry Boot according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view illustrating the Dry Boot accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to acovering device and more particularly to a Dry Boot, a set ofknee-length, flexible zippered shoe and boot protectors that would fitover one's shoes or boots and lower leg, providing all-weather,watertight protection of fashion footwear and keep them looking fresh,clean, and new, whatever the weather.

Referring now to the drawings FIGS. 1-2, the Dry Boot comprising a novelproduct offering consumers a practical solution to the aforementionedchallenges. As the name implies, the Dry Boot comprises a speciallydesigned durable set of “outer boots” designed to be worn over dressshoes or boots in inclement conditions, and providing full coverage ofthe foot and calf. To be produced by an affiliation of firms classifiedwithin two industries-of-manufacture—the Miscellaneous Plastics ProductsIndustry, Standard Industrial Code 3089; and the MiscellaneousManufacturing Industries, Standard Industrial Code 3999—the Dry Bootwould be fabricated in a lightweight, yet tough and durable, somewhatflexible, transparent, molded plastic material; and the Dry Boot wouldbe produced in Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large sizes—perhaps onlyfor women, perhaps for women and men. (The Dry Boot might also beproduced and offered in a variety of colors.)

The Dry Boot would slip over the foot, accommodate the heel, and extendupward to just below the knee, fastening at the side with threeVELCRO®-equipped, adjustable straps. On the outer side of one Boot, anadditional pair of VELCRO® fastening loop straps will serve to secure acompact umbrella. Each pair of Dry Boots will be packaged with its owncompact carrying case or pouch, so that when a user has arrived at herdestination, she will simply undo the VELCRO® straps which secure theBoots, remove them from over her shoes or boots, and then fold the DryBoots and place them in the handy carrying case for subsequent use. Whenfolded and stowed in the case, the Dry Boots will fit easily into apurse or briefcase.

The Dry Boot invention has a simple purpose, and has been conceived anddesigned to achieve it at an exceptionally affordable price. The DryBoot will come between a consumer's dress shoes or boots and the outsideworld of rain, snow, sleet, or mud—keeping the covered shoes or bootsnot only dry, but also clean, fresh, and looking new. Designed for usewith dress footwear ranging from evening heels to high boots, the DryBoot would be versatile, durable, and easy to use—and a single pair ofDry Boots would accommodate one's entire wardrobe of shoes and boots.Clever in conception and designed to meet a real need for those whoenjoy fashion footwear, the Dry Boot would offer long-term service at aneminently affordable price—and this handy set of footwear protectors,sure to appeal to fashion-conscious women around the world, should finda wide and enthusiastic market reception. The Dry Boot is cost-effectiveto produce in the embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-2.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claim:
 1. A covering device for footwearessentially as described herein.